Mike Brixey Memorial Scholarship Fund

On March 24, 2023, we lost one of the good ones. Michael Kenneth Brixey came kicking and fighting into this world on September 15, 1959. He completed Jacqueline and Kenneth Brixey’s family, his big sister Toni was delighted too. He spent his childhood enjoying all the outdoor activities their home of Crescent City has to offer. Hunting ducks on lake, fishing the Smith River, bear hunting, and of course learning to run hounds at the age of twelve from Kenny Gavin. He attended Pine Grove and St. Josephs elementary school. He graduated Del Norte high school in 1977. His football picture can still be found at the local hardware store, as he was known as one of Del Norte’s greats. Somewhere along the way he was given, one of many, nicknames “The Rock.” It has been said that he had been found fighting a time or two, his mother was certain this was done only in circumstance of self-defense. None the less he had been given the name the rock, because of his rock-hard physic and brute strength. These attributes helped him dominate several logging competitions for years to come. Speed pole was perhaps his favorite event.

He started his career climbing trees in the mountains that he loved so much. He topped and rigged trees for over 10 years for Miller Rellim Redwood. He met the love of his life, Linda Brixey, in 1979, they were married in 1980. They raised their two boys, Jason and Matthew, in the home that Mike and his father Kenneth built. Mike’s boys were his pride and joy. There is absolutely nothing he loved more than sharing his passion for the great outdoors with them and, later in life, his grandchildren. When his boys were young there was rarely a weekend that went by that they weren’t hunting, fishing, or running hounds. In 1993 him and his father built a new Gun Club for the community in Smith River. They were passionate about raising youth to know the great outdoors and outdoor sportsmanship.

Mike eventually decided, after losing several friends to logging, that he needed to give up climbing trees. He spent the remainder of his work career farming and in various fields of construction. During these years, he once again filled any free time he had, with his boys. They were both extremely involved in 4-H and FFA. Mike could be found from sunup to sundown in the barns not only helping his boys but any kid that needed an extra hand. Mike was always there to lend a helping hand; he was truly a selfless man.

In his later years he had a routine of driving to the lake, river, and docs to “check things out.” He would “check things out” daily, and often ended up lending a helping hand to whoever needed it. Checking on his parents was also part of his routine, he checked on them every day, sometimes more than once, until their passing. His love for his family and community ran deep. The stories that he could share about the people and events that made up his life were unmatched and perhaps will be the most remembered thing about him. It has been something that has been brought up over and over since he has passed. Every person that has come to see us and share their condolences has mentioned that Mike always made them feel like part of their family and spoke of how his stories made them laugh, cry, and gave them perspective.

The Mike Brixey Memorial Scholarship Fund will support youth that have an aspiration in the trades such as career technical education. Mikes work ethic was his strongest attribute.